The Big 12's perfect bowl season run came to an end in a high-octane showdown, as Arizona State fell just short against Duke in the Sun Bowl. In a game that was all gas, no brakes from the opening whistle, both teams lit up the scoreboard and reminded fans why bowl season is one of the most entertaining stretches in college football.
Arizona State, the only team to hand Texas Tech a loss this season, came into this one looking to keep the Big 12’s bowl record spotless. But Duke had other plans. In a game defined by explosive plays, big-time quarterback performances, and relentless offensive tempo, the Blue Devils edged out the Sun Devils in a 42-39 thriller that wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
Let’s start with the quarterbacks, because they put on a show.
Arizona State’s Jeff Sims delivered what might go down as the most complete performance of his college career. Sims was locked in from the jump, finishing with 375 passing yards on 27-of-38 attempts.
He tossed three touchdowns through the air and added another dimension with his legs, rushing for 70 yards and punching in two more scores on the ground. It was a dual-threat masterclass from the Sun Devils' signal-caller.
On the other side, Duke’s Darian Mensah matched Sims step for step. Mensah aired it out for 327 yards and four touchdowns, tossing just one interception along the way.
And when it mattered most, he delivered. With just over two minutes left in a tight game, Mensah found Que-Sean Brown for a 17-yard touchdown strike that ultimately sealed the win for the Blue Devils.
The game itself was a back-and-forth shootout from start to finish. Both teams traded punches early, each putting up 14 points in the first quarter. Duke took a narrow 28-24 lead into halftime, and by the time the fourth quarter rolled around, it was still a one-score game with Duke up 35-32.
In total, the two teams combined for a staggering 1,158 yards of offense. That’s not a typo - over a thousand yards of combined production. And while there were four turnovers between the two squads, the offensive fireworks more than made up for the occasional miscue.
Arizona State’s offense did everything it could to keep pace, but in the end, it just wasn’t enough to keep the Big 12’s bowl record unblemished. Still, this was the kind of game that reminds you why bowl season matters - two teams leaving it all on the field, trading big plays, and battling until the final whistle.
For Arizona State, the loss stings, especially with how well they played offensively. But there's no shame in the effort. And for Duke, it's a statement win to close out the year - a game where their offense proved it could go toe-to-toe with one of the more explosive teams in the Big 12 and come out on top.